Take great pictures with confidence
Get rid of all the guess work, dramatically flatten your learning curve and become a confident photographer.
Every great photograph makes use of four fundamental principles to make it successful. They are Exposure, Light and Colour, Focus and Composition.
During our The Fundamentals of Photography workshop we'll walk you through these principles and show you how to apply them to unleash your creativity and help you become a great photographer.
Here is what you'll learn
Camera Equipment and Camera Controls
Taking good pictures goes hand in hand with taking control of your equipment. We discuss the different camera options available and how to choose which camera will work best for your needs.
Then we'll also look at those settings on your camera that you'll need to know to help you take control of your photography.
You'll receive the first lessons to this section, in video format even before the workshop starts.
Lenses and Focal Length
Lenses are one of the most important tools in photography. We'll introduce you to a variety of different lenses and how they will influence your photography. This is a great module to master before you decide to spend extra money on lenses.
Shutter speed
Shutter speed controls the amount of time your camera's sensor is exposed to light and it could become one of your most creative tools. Discover when to use slow shutter speeds and when to use fast shutter speeds for great creative control.
Aperture and Depth of Field
We'll show you how Depth of Field can influence the overall design of your picture. Different subjects require different Apertures and we'll show you how to you can control these in a variety of photography scenarios.
Light, Colour and the Zone System
Photography is all about light. Understanding the different qualities of light helps you to determine the camera's white balance. It also helps you to understand exposure metering and by understanding the zone system you can apply exposure compensation better.
Composition I - Visual Elements
We'll introduce you to the elements of visual design and you'll learn how to translate a 3D world into a 2D picture. These elements are the key to making meaningful compositions.
Composition II - Background and Perspectives
Good photography considers not only the subject, but also the Background. We'll look at how to use backgrounds constructively and also how to apply your Point-of-View to change the "look and feel" of a picture.
Composition III - Framing and Combining it all
Now it is time to put it all together. We'll introduce you to the different "compositional rules" and how to apply the previous two Composition modules to achieve a cohesive image that tells a great story.
Access to our private photography community to help you on your journey.
We want you to have the complete package to help you build a strong photographic foundation.
To help you on your journey, we've created a private community for all Fundamentals of Photography students.
This workshop gives you access to this community, where you can continue your learning with the support of a community of passionate photographers.
What you need to know about the workshops
When
We will regularly post new dates for this workshop. Please see the event calendar below for the latest dates.
Where
The workshop takes place over two days.
Unless otherwise stated all lectures will be held at the West Coast Fossil Park's lecture room.
A three hour photo walk will be held at Bokkomlaan, Velddrif, on day two.
Duration
Day 1: 09h00 to 17:00
The first day we'll cover the theoretical aspects through a series of Lectures at the West Coast Fossil Park.
Day 2: 09:00 to 13:00
Day two is an all practical day where we'll do a photo walk at Bokkomlaan, Velddrif, to practise all the theory discussed during day one. The last hour of the day will be spent on a final Q&A over a cup of coffee.
Pax
We'll take a maximum of 12 people per workshop. Should bookings exceed 8 people, we'll bring in a second instructor on day two to ensure everybody gets maximum support.
Please note:
A minimum of 4 bookings are needed for the workshop to go ahead.
Price
The price is R1475 per person and is payable over two installments. 50% when you reserve your place and the balance no later than two weeks before the start of the workshop.
Pay the full workshop fee no later than a month before the start of the workshop and we'll give you a 15% discount voucher to use on one of our very popular Bird Photography Boat Trips.
The following is included in the workshop fee:
Lecturer and photo assistants
Lecture facilities at the West Coast Fossil Park
All workshop notes
Coffee, tea and rusks upon arrival at the West Coast Fossil Park
A light lunch at the West Coast Fossil Park
Complimentary water for the duration of the workshop
Complimentary coffee at Columbine Co. during the photo walk
The first lesson FREE to our workshop "Photo Editing with Open Source Software".
What is not included:
Camera equipment
Transport to and from venues
If you do wish to rent any camera equipment for the workshop, please let us know in advance and we'll try to arrange that for you.
About your Instructor
Ron Moller
Owner, Founder and Photography Instructor at Nature & Photo
Ron Moller's photographic career spans over two decades, which allowed him to get exposure to a variety of photography disciplines, work on several international productions and shoot for some of South Africa's top clients.
These days he focuses on nature photography and environmental education. He is a National Geographic Certified Educator and his teaching style is very natural and personal, preferring to work with small groups so that his students can get maximum benefit from spending time with him.
Read more about him here.